Building element and method of softening the surface thereof



Sept 5S i933. N HARSHBERGER 1,925,961

BUILDING ELEMENT AND METHOD OF' SOFTENING THE SURFACE THEREOF l FiledrSept. 24, 1930- l NV EN TOR.

2;@@7 f77/mf@ A TTORNEY Patented Sept., 5, 1933 BUmmNG ELEMENT Ma'rnon .oF sorreme rnc spannen 'rnnnaor `Non P. Harshberger, Scarsdale, N. Y., as-

signor to Bakelite img Products Go. Inc.,

New York, N. il., a corporation of Delaware application september 2i, its@ Serial No.. @4,073

t irme A'This invention relates to improvements in l building elements and method of softening the surface thereof.

it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved method of softening the surface of composition building material for the purpose of welding one element to another when a roof is being covered, so as to eliminate the necessity of employing other types of locking lo means, said method being also suitable for use during manufacture to create raised and indented portions on the surface of the material to produce designs thereon.

A more specic object of this `invention is to provide an improved method of softening the surface of composition building material which embodies the use of a combustible material inA juxtaposition to the surface` which it is desired to soften, said combustible material being capaggrble, when ignited, of producing a quick and intense heat to accomplishthe desired object.

A further object of this invention is to provide building elements having combustible material incorporated in the surfacing thereof in desired 2a positions so'that saidv combustible material may be readily ignited when the elements are being laid to cause a softening of the surfacing and a resulting welding of one roofing element to another.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of the class described which is simple I to carry out, effective, and well adapted for the purposel described.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention consists of the\improved building elements and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference numerals designate the same 4.0 parts in all of the views: r

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one type of roofing strip showing the combustible material embodied therein in a suitable position to lock down the projecting portions of a unit laid above;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2--2 or" Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing two strips of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 as they appear when welded together; i

Fig. d is a plan view of a rectangular shingle incorporating the combustible material therein;

Fig. 5 isy an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fie. d;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a strip carrying a pluralit'y of combustible elements; l

(ci. roo-o) Fig. 7 is a plan view of a roofing strip showing the surface thereof depressed along certain lines to create an individual shingle eect;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. '7;' and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modification.

In carrying out the method of preparing composition building material so that one element may be readily Welded to another, a roofing strip l2, which comprises a felt or fabric base coated with bituminous material such as asphalt and a layer of granulated mineral, having depending tabs i3 (see Fig. l), may be utilized. Either while said strip is being cut from the web, or be 70 fore or after this operation, suitable combustible material such as a mixture of saltpeter and sugar, or such as a suitable nitrous or cellulose compositionr is applied to a fuel such as straw board, and said substance may be imbedded in the asphalt surfacing as shown in Fig. 9, or it may be applied to the top thereof as in Fig. 2. In the form shown in Fig. l, the impregnated straw board is applied in small circles 14 at desired points. 8o

In laying building elements so prepared, one row of said elements is laid, and before each element of the row above is put in position, the impregnated straw board 1d is ignited by means of 'a match or by a heated iron. If desired, sulphur may be used in the combustible mixture to render the composition combustible under the pressure of a hammer or the like. The ignited substanceA will cause an intense heat, softening the asphalt surfacing therearound. While said surfacing is still soft, the element above is laid in position and is pressed down as shown in Fig. 3. As the surfacing hai-dens, it `will adhere to the lower side of the element above to weld said element in position.

If individual shingle elements 12' of the type shown in Figure 4 areto be laid, it is preferred to utilize an elongated strip of impregnated material 14'. Said strip may be either positioned on the surface of the asphalt as shown in Figure 5, or it may be imbedded therein as shown in Figure 9. In laying this type of unit, the combustible material is ignited as above described and the lower edge of a shingle above is welded over said combustible material.

As an additional modication ofthe method, a plurality of the circular combustible elements' 14;/ may be supplied in spaced-apart position on a strip of tape or other material 15, as shown in Figure c. said strip may te cut in desired lengths M0 and laid in any manner desired on the surface of an ordinary composition shingle and ignited to cause a softening of the surface thereof to weld another yshingle thereto. The dimensions of the body may also be changed as desired to provide for. varied thicknesses in assembly and to vary the quantity of material necessary to cover the standard roofing unit of 100 square feet.

The combustible material may also be used during the process of manufacturing the shingle by laying strips thereof on the web and kby igniting said material to cause a softening of the asphalt surfacing. Said surfacingmay then be pressed as indicated at 16 in Figures 7 and 8 to create lines of demarcation. In so depressing the softened surfacing, the material on each side of the depression is caused to raise up as at 17 to further bring out the effect desired. .The combustible material may be applied in any desired design in dry or wet form, or it may be combined with paper or straw board which has been cut to a desired design.

From the above description it may be seen that a very novel method has beendescribed for softening the surfacing of composition roofing material which is suitable for use in welding a pluralityof elements together, in creating design effects, and for other purposes.

What I claim is:

l. The method of softening the surface of composition building material consisting of placing a fibrous material impregnated with a quickly ignitable combustible substancecapable of produc- ,ingan intense heat in intimate contact with the impregnated with a quickly ignitable combustible substance capable of producing an intense heat in intimate contact with the surface oi' one element, igniting said fuel and combustible material to cause softening of the surface in contact therewith, placing another element over said softened surface, ,and applying pressure to cause'an adhesion of portions of the two elements.

3. The method of laying composition building elementshconsisting of placing a quickly ignitable combustible substance capable of producing an intense heat in intimate contact with desired portions of the surface of said elements, laying one or more of said elements on the building, igniting said combustible substance to cause softening of the surfacing in contact therewith, placing other elements over said` softened surfacing, and applying pressure to cause adhesion of portions of the overlapping elements so that said portions are interlocked when the surfacing hardens.

4. A composition building element comprising a body portion having surfacing capable of being softened under heat, and fuel including a quickly ignitable substance capable of producing an intense heat permanently secured in intimate contact with portions of said surfacing which are to be overlapped by otherelements when a plurality of said elements are assembled.

5. A composition building element comprising a body portion having surfacing capable of being softened under heat, and fuel impregnated with a quickly ignitable combustible substance capable of producing an intense heat securedin relatively small areas in intimate contact with portions of said surfacing which are to be" overlapped by other elements when a plurality of ksaid elements are assembled. j

NORMAN P. HARSHIBERGER. 

